Means fob



Oct. 16, 1928.

B. B. BRYAN, JR

MEANS FOR APPLYING 1'0 USEFUL PURPOSES THE ENERGY DEVELOPED THROUGH THE MOMENTUM 0F MOVING TRAINS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1926 F W L;

Oct. 16, 1928. I 1,687,927

' f B. B. BRYAN, JR MEANS FOR APPLYING TO USEFUL PURPOSES THE ENERGY DEVELOPED THROUGH THE MOMENTUM OF MOVING TRAINS Filed July'9, 1926 V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT R www- ATTORNEY Patented 0a. 16, 1928;

UNITED starts PAT .oEFics.

BENJAMIN B. BRYAN, an, or NEW'YORK', n. Y; Y

MEANS FOR APPLYING TO USEFUL IPURPOSESTHE ENERGY DEVELOPED rimooon THE MOMENTUM OF movmemnams.

Application filed July 9, 1926. Serial No 121,300.

This invention relates to means for the utilization of power developed by moving bodies, such as trains travelling on rails, and my improvements, while not so limited,'are directed in one phase thereof to means for harnessing the energy represented by the momentum of a train descending a grade, together with means for applying that energy to the generation of electricity, for useful purposes.

Also my invention comprehends the employment of movable means located in the.

vicinity of stations or stopping places and adapted to function as braking or speed retardation-means for a train while absorbing its momentum for the generation ofpower applicable to other, useful purposes.

In railroading there exist many extensive traclrsections having a down grade upon which trains may travel largely under the influence of gravity, the weight of the train furnishing momentum that is more than sufficient to maintain a desirable travel speed, and therefore my invention contemplates the capture and turning to useful account of the surplus energy which today is lost by absorption into the braking systems in vogue.

Therefore my invention consistsin paralleling the track with an endless belt, suitably mounted and adapted to operate one or more electrical generators, the belt being provided with engaging means adapted to co-act-with a projection from a train on the. track, so that v the belt will begiven continuous movement while the train is travelling over the sectionof track equipped in-the manner setflforth.

Realizing that breakage would result if the engaging means on the belt, while stationary,

were struck-by a train travelling at fast ,or even moderate speed, I have provided independent means for setting in motion the power 1 generating belt and according. it a speed aproximating the speed of the oncoming train,

to the end that the engaging means respectively on the train'and belt may connect without shock or sudden impact.

I Further myinvention includes the prov i sion of means'wherebyithe independent belt operating means may be energized automatically as the'train approaches a track'section equipped with my new power generating.

means, and again de-energiz ed when the train picks up the load. x

The braking effect: upon a train resulting from the use of the power generating belt can be advantageously employed at all stopnumerous stations.

ping places, whether on grades or on level stretches, and this feature will be of particular value for subways, where reat Waste in energy occurs with the brake stoppages at Other features and advantages of my in vention will hereinafter appear. I

generating means showing a longfreight train as the actuator thereof. Fig. 4 s a plan view of a'track-way,;with a power generating belt alongside, showinga numberof generators operable by said belt. a Fig. 5 is a-sideelevation showing. a locomotive, ageneratolxfl belt and interengaging jlmeians.respectively 'onsaid locomotive and e t. 7

Fig.16 is a transverse section of the endless belt, with one ofits revoluble mountsand carrying a'fixed detent, and v Fig. 7,is a plan View typical of an installation of my system for subways or elevated railways wherein the frequent train stoppages ing means into power generation.

" In the drawings let i 1 1 indicate a railwav track, including a section ,2 that isin'sulate d from the main part of the trackby insulation which is of aidesirable length, is included in an electrical eircuit4-havinga source of electrical energy 5,-the circuit 4 also including an electro-magnet6 that attracts an armature 7 t to therebyliold open ano'ther circuit-8, which other circuit8 has a souroeof electrical energy 9 and, when closed, serves'to' operate a motor 10. But the circuit 4, being normally closed. thereby causes motor 10 to be normally 'inac tive.

i As has been"premised onev of the objects of my invention is to enable attain in mojtion to generate electrical current fongeneral power uses, for which purpose I cause the: track, or a; portion thereof, and particularly a down means, such for example as the shafts 13, for

enable the conversion of my improved brak e0 such as is indicated at 3, 3. {This section'2,

IOU

5 grade portion, to be paralleled with abeltll,

the operation of electrical generators 14, these generators being disposed suitably alongside the track inplaces where they: will serve conveniently as power producers. Therefore the 'belt' 11 'carriesa number of projections or detents 15,'whi'clr'are securedthereto and caused to extend from the belt in manner to lie in the p'atho f a spur :or dog 16 which extends for that purpose from the train. As here'shown this'd'og is pivotally connected at-1-7' to the locomotive18gsaid dog being adaptedto' swing or be swung forwafd1y,.s0 that it may not engage with the belt when the train is moving in the rearward direction,buta fixed stop 19 or equivalent means upon the locomotive preventing said dog from having independent rearward motion',-wli ereb'y "said dog, whenthe train is moving forwardly, will engagejone of the detents 15 and thereby communicate the train movement to the belt. I 1

-Realizing"'that"if=a train moving at even moderate speed sho'uld cause its dog 16 to strike a detent on the belt*while said belt was stationary the momentum of impact would cause breakage of the engaging mem- -bers, or one of them, to result, I have pro- *vided auxiliary power means, automatically setin operation for establishing movement ofthe belt 11, approximating the travel speed of the "train, just prior to the entry of the train upon'the track portion equipped with belt 11, so that the dog 16 may come into engagement with adetent on the belt substantially without shock, whereupon, ac-

cording to my {invent-ion, said auxiliary power means will cease to function. i

' As an example-of means for automatically applying and disconnectingauxiliary power means for establishing motion in the belt 11, I have shownthe'bel't 20'which connects one ofthe revoluble-supp'orts12 for belt 11 with a'fs'haft 21 that extends from and is actuated by motor 10.

As haspreviou'sly been stated,'the circuit 8 is normally open, but when the locomotive 'or train 18 enters upon the insulated track section 2, thereby ashort circuit is effected in the circuit 4, the current passing through the wheelsand axle of the locomotive, thus de-energ izing magnet 6', and allowing circuit 8 to closefor'the operation of motor 10.

The insulated track section 2'will be of s'u'fiicientlength to permit belt 11 to attain a desired speed before the last car of the train leaves said section, by which time the dog 16 will have engaged one'of the detents 15, "and thereafter the travel movementof the train'will movethebelt 11 for the operation of all the "generators actuable thereby; Also,

"as soonas the train leaves track section 2 circuit 4fwi-1l again energize magnet 6 and cause circu'it'8 to'open. p

In Fig. 3"I have shown the down grade, and a lengthy freight train.-

thereon, the rear car as well as the locomotive being provided with a dog 16 for engaging a detent 15 on belt,l1, in order that the power transmission to the belt may be continued thereby until the entire train passes that is needful to brake the speed of the train "sothat it may come to a stop at the station platform. For these purposes a may be provided to that already ,described,

similar arrangement namely, the insulated track section 31', having circuit 24 to energize magnet 25, the train 26 to short circuit thecircuit 24,,thereby closing circuit 27, and the power transmission belt 28 actuating generators 29, 'together'with the whenthe t-rainis'on track section31, said belt 30 ceasing to function when the train leaves saidsection. I v i v a 1 In this application of mywinfvention it is equally necessary to impart to; belt 28 a speed of movement approximately that ofanon coming train before thetra in enters the Zone or station'in which the braking operation is to-be-performed. It is customary for these urban and suburban trains to ,run at high speed right into the staticnsand to be brought to a stand-still through powerful brakes while moving along the lengthy platform. fore I arrange. the belt 28, suitably guarded, alongside the platform, or iit may be under the platform, in position forengagement by lllillIlS entering the station, that 1t may serve 'both as speed retardation ancl braking neans for the trains, and to transmit the momentum of-the trains tothe generators 29.;

While in; the foregoingdescription I have a train I do not wish to belimited thereby to a number of cars and locomotive coupled together, but the term train, both in the de 'scription and in the appended claims, is in tended to designate any rolling stock-movable upon a track, such as a: single car, a locomotive, or-any number of cars or cars and locomotive coupled together, v

Variations .within the spirit and; scope of my invention are equally comprehended by the foregoing disclosure.

The; combination witharailway; and a train movable thereon, of an electrical gener- There.

starting up belt 30 operated by circuit 27 1 inc referred to the bodies movable upona track as I ator located adjacent a section of said railway, transmission mea nsextendecl along said section and movable With the train, means act-nahle by an approaching train to set said transmission means in motion, and co-acting means between saidtrain and transmission means for the operation of said generator by the train momentum. v

2. The Combination with a railway and a train movable thereon, of an electrical power generator located adjacent a-section of said railway, movable braking means located along said section, means actuable by an approaching vain to set said braking means in motion, said power generator actuable by said braking means, and engaging means be-- tween said train and braking means for retarding the speed of the train while transmitting its momentum for the operation of 20 the generator.

Executed this 14th day of June, 1926.

BENJAMIN B. BRYAN, J n. 

